Handle for floor treating machines



March 6, 194 5. Rv w 5 2,370.907

HANDLE FOR FLOOR TREATING MACHINES Original Filed March 6, 1941 3mm #066541. A. LEW/.5,

Patented Mar. 6, 1945 UNITED v {STATES PATENT OFF-ICE;

l f 2,s':0,9o'7 Q I JHANDLE FOR FLOOR TREATING MACHINES Russell Lewis, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to Finnell System, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Original ppncauonmmh c, 1941, Serial No.

382,013.. Divided and this application April 30,

1942, Serial No. 441,091

Y 4.Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in handles for floor treating machines, such, for example, as that shown in co-pending application Serial No. 382,013 filed March 6, 1941, of which this is a divisional application.

The aforesaid co-pending application discloses driven through such gear reduction by said mo-' tor, said member carrying a brush, sand-paper or other device that directly contacts the floor for operation thereon. Such machines are pushed about over the floor by a handle, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of handle which carries upon it a control for the electrical switch, controlling the circuit of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switching mechanism mounted upon a handle and operated by a pair of finger-grips sothat the switching mechanism can be operated by either hand or from either side of the machine.

A further object is to provide a handle in which the connecting cord leading to the switch is car ried in the casing of the handle.

In the accompanying drawing-- Figure 1 is a front view of a handle embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the in Figure 1.

The numeral I denotes the frame, casing, or other part of the machine with which the handle is used, and the handle ll is secured therein in any suitable way, such, for example, by welding it into a socket on the casing shown at 12.

The handle may comprise a pair of telescopic tubes, as shown in Figure 2, a clamping ring [3, and a cam I4 being applied to the outer tube for clamping the tubes in any position so as to alter the length of the handle.

At the upper end of the tube II is welded a casing l5 and extending laterally therefrom is a tubular member [6 carrying a pair of rubber hand grips l1, it. The casing I5 is provided witha detachable front cover l9 and encloses a suitable switching mechanism 20, which is held in the casing as a unit by screws 20*, 20

This switching mechanism is operated by a pair of finger grips 2|, 22,which are pivoted on lugs in the casing, as shown at 23, 24, and which have cam noses 25, 26, adapted to engage the sliding block- 21 which is normally held in the upward position, Figure 2, by means of tension springs 28.

handle shown By squeezingthe namnes 24,1212, toward thehand grips l1, 18, the blockfz'l will be moved downward and the electrical circuit to the motor, of the machine closed via the switch 2-0, the movable switch actuator member 28 of which is connected,

to the sliding block 21. Therefore, the device may be operated by eitherhand or "from either' side of the machine, and the switch will remain closed only as long as one of the handles 2|, 22, are held upwards.

The usual connecting cord 30 is'provided having the attachment plug 3| on its outer end. This connects to the terminals of switch 2ll,which may be either a single or double pole, and the conductors 32 continue down from the switch through the tube ll, terminating at their lower end in suitable connectors 33 in the base within the casing in, which connectors connect to suitable terminals or other connectors located within the base or housing circuit with the motor thereof.

To use the handle, the machine operator may grasp the hand grips l1, l8, and push the machine over the floor without the motor being in operation, the finger grips '2 l, 22, being released so that the switching mechanism 20 is in open circuit position.

When it is desired to start the motor, the opera; tor merely extends his fingers to embrace one or the other of the finge'rgrips-Z I, 22, drawing either of them toward its associated hand grip ll, -|-8. This immediately operates the switch '20 in the manner previously described, starting the motor while at the same time if for any reason the opere ator lets goof the handle the motor stops, which is quite important in the event that the machine should accidentally tip over or the operator should slip and fall. In such cases Where the switch is manually operated by a special movement, the machine continues running, although the operators hands are not upon it; whereas with the improved handle forming the subject-matter of this application, the motor will stop as soon as the operators hand leaves the handle. What is claimed is: 1. In combination, a handle, a casing supported at one end thereof, a pair of rigid hand grip members secured to said handle, a switching mechanism mounted in said casing including a movable member, spring means within said casing tending to move said movable member to normal open circuit position, actuating means for said movable member mounted in said casing and projecting laterally therefrom including a pair of finger grips underlying said hand grip members, and means mounted in said casing adapted to be actuated by said finger grips to move said movable member of said switching mechanism to closed circuit position against the tension of said spring.

2. In combination, a handle member, a casing supported at one end thereof, a pair of rigid hand grip members secured to said handle, a switch in cluding a movable member mounted in said casing,

' a finger grip extending laterally from said casing and underlying said hand grip members pivotally handle, a finger grip underlying one of said hand grip members and extending laterally from said casing and movably mounted thereon, said grip having switch-engaging means at its inner end within said casing, a switch mechanism within said casing mounted as a removable unit therein, means for moving said switch from open to closed circuit position by the movement of said finger grip toward said handle including a camming portion on said finger grip, and means in said casing I tending to normally hold said switch in open circuit position except when actuated as aforesaid.

4. In combination, a handle having a casing at its outer end, hand grip members secured to said handle, a switching mechanism supported in said casing and removable therefrom as a unit, finger grips underlying said hand grip members and extending laterally from said first casing and I pivoted thereon, spring means for positioning said grips in relation to their support, and means including a member interposed between said grips and the movable member of said switch, whereby upon movement of either of. said grips, said switching mechanism may be moved from open to closed circuit position thereby and against the tension of said spring.

, RUSSELL K. LEWIS. 

